The sharp divide in the Congress on its relationship with alliance partner PDP, the J&K Congress’s affinity with the opposition NC and the emergence of new political groups, all set to jump into the poll fray in Kashmir, too could change the contours of poll contests here. The new PCC president and Union minister, Saif-ud-din Soz, has cordial relations with the PDP while Chief Minister Azad and his close associates in the party have developed a relationship with the NC.

The NC has its own problems. Though the single largest party in the legislative assembly, it has neither managed to work out an interesting poll plank nor has it allowed itself to gain from the anti-incumbency factors. Besides, the party’s old guard is pulling it backwards rather than allowing its young leadership to create a vibrant political discourse.

The recent split in the PDP, when one of its founder leaders — the Tangmarg MLA and former minister, Ghulam Hassan Mir — parted ways with the Sayeeds and launched his own political party is an indicator of a new phenomenon. The clout wielded by the third front in Kashmir — the People’s Democratic Front, which was set up by a group of independent legislators after the 2002 elections — in both the Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and Ghulam Nabi Azad-led administrations has encouraged independents and new political parties to join the fray.

There are subtle indications that the People’s Conference leader, Sajjad Lone, too is weighing his plans to join the election process. Lone could be a substantial factor in Kupwara district in particular while his party has support bases in Baramulla and Bandipore districts as well. And if Lone shuns the routine separatist boycott, it will change several political equations, especially those in north Kashmir.

... contd.